Possibilities of raising funds through subsidy schemes and in-depth information for young people about the agricultural sector, livestock and the processing of agricultural products
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the offices of the Cyprus Rural Payments Agency and to today's press conference.
I would like you to know, dear representatives of the media, that the strategic planning of the Agency includes the full information of our farmers and livestock farmers on all the possibilities of raising funds through the subsidy schemes. As well as the in-depth information of our young people who want to pursue either agriculture, livestock farming or the processing of agricultural products. Your help in this direction is of utmost importance and for this I thank you very much.
Notice of Single Application for Extensive Subsidies 2023
The submission of applications has already started and a deadline of 10.04.2023 has been granted. Thereafter and up to 05/05/2023, the receipt of applications will be allowed but for each working day of delay in submission, a 1% reduction in the eligible aid will be imposed. All applicants are invited to participate in the information meetings that will be held throughout Cyprus and in general to carefully read the Single Application Application Implementation Manual - Information for Applicants in order to be able, firstly, to participate in all the interventions allowed to them and secondly, to submit the applications correctly and completely. The new computerised system has been extended in accordance with the requirements of European legislation and at the same time the Agency has tried to make it as user-friendly as possible.
Control System through Monitoring of Agricultural Land
With the receipt of the Single Application for Extensive Payments 2022, the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Agency (CAP), implemented a Monitoring Control System for the Single Area Payment Scheme (SAPS) and will continue to do so with extensions in 2023.
Through the Copernicus Sentinel satellites, the CMO will receive images from all over Cyprus every five days, and using specialised algorithms and indicators will check for the existence of crops or agricultural activity on the requested parcels. Our applicants should ensure that they monitor and check the results in the CAA's online application system (EAS), and where they disagree they are given the opportunity to send a georeferenced photo through the special applications developed by the CAA, proving the eligibility of their parcel.
All application parcels will also be checked through the Monitoring System. If potential non-compliance is found, the applicant will receive a notification via a personal message (SMS) to the mobile phone number registered in his/her application. It is also possible to amend the application accordingly without penalty until 20 October 2022.
The introduction of monitoring controls for the CACS in 2022 is the first step towards the implementation of the Area Monitoring System, which will be mandatory in the Common Agricultural Policy from 2023.
The main strategic pillar of the Agency is the support of the farmer himself, each applicant for agricultural subsidies individually and as a whole, that is why the Agency's staff is always at the farmers' side to avoid any mistakes that lead to delays or penalties. The Agency is determined to provide all possible and legal assistance to the Cypriot farmer so that the objective of zero loss of European funding is fully realised. At the same time it should be stressed that the Agency's main concern is the timely and accurate payments
Rural Development Investment Measures
For the Rural Development Investment Measures, as regards the 3rd call of the 4th Call for Proposals.1 - "Investments that improve the overall performance and viability of agricultural holdings" and the 2nd call of the Scheme 6.1 - "Support for the First Establishment of Young Farmers" the interest shown by our farmers was unprecedented and exceeded all expectations. The great interest of farmers indicates the great need for investment that exists in most sectors of agriculture/livestock farming, but also the success of the information campaign carried out before and during the call, through which all potential beneficiaries were informed about the provisions of the Schemes.
The great response has shown that the budget of the Schemes is very small. Realising early on the extent of the inadequacy of the available funds and bearing in mind that investment in the primary production sector by supporting such a key sector can give a significant boost to rural development, the CFCP is taking all necessary steps, making every effort to increase the budgets in order to approve as many applicants as possible, with priority being given to young farmers.
For the Rural Development Investment Measures, the total subsidies for the year 2022 have reached 10.7 million euros. At the same time, payments for the previous notices of the specific Schemes as well as for Scheme 5.2 - "Investment support for the restoration of agricultural potential" are continuing, depending on the progress in the implementation of investments by the applicants. Within the current year 2023, 2 million euros have been paid for all Rural Development Investment Measures.
It should also be mentioned that the following Rural Development Programme Measures/Chapters are expected to be announced immediately:
- Scheme 1.3: 'Short-term exchanges for farm and forestry and forest management and farm and forest visits'.
- Scheme 9.1: 'Setting up producer groups and organisations in the agricultural sector'.
For the Single Common Market Organisation measures, total subsidies in the last year have reached 7 million euro, involving around 1600 applicants. As regards the notices issued by the Cyprus Rural Payments Agency, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, and the payment of beneficiaries is expected to take place in 2023, the following are the following.
- Measure CMO3: "Support to Recognised Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisations based on their Operational Programmes"
- Measure CMO3: "Support to Recognised Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisations based on their Operational Programmes". Those interested have submitted their applications from 2 January 2023 to 15 February 2023.
- Measure OPSA 1b: 'Restructuring and Conversion of Vineyards 2022 - 2023'
- Measure OPSA 1b: 'Restructuring and Conversion of Vineyards 2022 - 2023'. The notice was for Action 1b.3 Construction/Repair of Traditional Walls in Existing Vineyards and the interested parties have submitted their applications from 09/12/2022 to 29/12/2022.
- "Beekeeping Programme 2023 - 2027".
- "Beekeeping Programme 2023 - 2027". The measure was announced on 13 March 2023, and the application period for eligible actions to be subsidized started on 1/1/2023. This is the first measure implemented by the CMOA under the New National Strategic Plan.
By the end of 2023, it is expected that the remaining measures of the Common Market Organisations included in the National Strategic Plan will be announced:
- EIA 2 - "Investments in Material and Intangible Assets in Vineyard Agricultural Systems, Processing Facilities and Winery Infrastructure, and in Marketing Structures and Tools" - 2nd Quarter 2023
- OPAP 4 - "Awareness actions on Union wines carried out in the Member States which encourage responsible wine consumption or promote Union quality systems covering Designations of Origin and Geographical Indications" - 3rd Quarter 2023
- OPAP 5 - "Promotion of Products and Communication carried out in Third Countries to Improve the Competitiveness of the Vine and Wine Sector and Opening, diversification or consolidation of markets" - 3rd quarter 2023
- OPSA 6 - "Tangible and intangible investments in innovation" - 3rd quarter 2023
- OPSA 1 - "Restructuring and conversion of vineyards" - 4th quarter 2023
Finally, as every year in April, measure CBA 16 is expected to be announced: "Cognitive Support Programme for the Provision of Fruit, Vegetables, Bananas and Milk in Educational Institutions".
Direct payment subsidies
Area payments
The payment of these payments has already started from 1 December 2022 (which, it is recalled, is the earliest possible date set by EU regulations for the start of payment of these payments) and has been completed. To date, 43.5 million euros have already been paid to approximately 31,000 beneficiaries.
Through the extensification payments, approximately 50 million euros, of which 44 million are European funding, are paid to approximately 31,000 Cypriot farmers. An additional €6 million is paid to approximately 27,000 beneficiaries through Measure 13 of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which concerns Support to areas with natural or other handicaps.
Agri-Environmental Measures
In the year 2022, the Agency processed and paid subsidies to approximately 7,000 beneficiaries of the Agri-Environmental Schemes of Measure 10 for the applications of the year 2021, for a total amount of EUR 7 million.
Concerning Measure 11 of Organic Agriculture, subsidies amounting to EUR 3.6 million have been paid to approximately 1,155 beneficiaries of the Measure for the applications of the year 2021.
The payment of subsidies concerning the applications of the above mentioned Measures for the year 2022 has started and will be completed by May 2023.
M14 - Animal Welfare
During 2022, the Agency has paid approximately EUR 2 million in aid to approximately 300 M14 beneficiaries for the 2021 applications.
Payment of aid for the year 2022 is expected to start at the beginning of April.
Headage payments
In the course of 2022, payments under the Voluntary Coupled Support for Goats and Sheep for milk totalling €3.7 million have been granted to approximately 1000 beneficiaries. For the year 2023, the announcement of this measure is expected around the beginning of April. The aid was paid to the following sectors as follows:
- Pig farming: EUR 2,5 million,
- Poultry farming: EUR 900,000,
- Cow farming: EUR 1,5 million
- Cattle farming: EUR 22,000.
[*]Transitional national aid in the Sheep and goat sector of EUR 5 million. [/LIST]
While in 2023 the following has been paid:
- extraordinary state aid due to the consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in the sectors:
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Categories |
[TD]
Maximum Total Aid (€)
[/TD][TR] [TD]
[A](a) Potato producers
[/TD] [TD]3.500.000
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD](b) Growers of deciduous trees
[/TD] [/TD] [TD]1.000.000
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD](c) Growers of elec. Vegetable Growers
[/TD] [/TD] [TD]1,900,000
[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD](d) Poultry farming - egg production
[/TD] [/TD] [TD]400.000
[/TD] [/TR]
- de minimis aid regarding the West Nicosia Farmers' Support Scheme to compensate for high water costs, amounting to approximately €30,000.
Notice of measure 22 of the RDP 2014-2020 - Exceptional support to support farmers affected by the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The total amount of support per sector is:
- Cereals → €2.4 million
- Sheep and goats → €2.8 million
Payments are expected to start soon and to be completed in April.
Thanks to the CFCS staff, Contractors, Parties and Farmers' Organisations.
Thank you
(AF/EXP)
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